Amusement device



Aug. 11, 1925,

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed NOV. 28, 1924 i l JIM I!!! I 4 v ATTO EY.

Patented Aug. Ill, 1925.

NETEEI) ,eaeet rarest QTTO U. Hos-ran, or n us a GITY, MISSOURI;

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

' Application filed November 28, 1924;- Serial No. 752,593.

and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following isa complete specification.

This invention relates to amusement devices and particularly deviceswherein a counting head, operable by the throwing of balls is,used todetermine the score and skil of the player.

More specifically this invention pertains to a new and novel countinghead wherein the structure is less complicated and the result attainedmore satisfactory to the players.

A further object of this'invention isto provide a counting headwhich maybe used inoonnection with the well known ball rolls ing surface whichterminates in a semi-circular rolling surface leading into the rear ofthe counting head.

An even furtherobject of this invention is the provision of appropriateretrieving means for the slidably mounted score drop located on thefront of the counting head facing the player. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and novelmeans of scoring in a game of this character wherein the scoring numberorcounter is normally con cealed beneath the slidably mounted score dropand revealed only when the operating mechanism of that particular scoredrop is actuated by the ball thrown into the counting head by means ofthe semi-circular rolling surface.

With these general objects in view as well as minor objects which willappear in the course of the detailed specification and claims, theinvention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a game of this type embodying theimproved counting head.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical central section of the counting head anda portion of the semicircular rolling surface. which introduces theballs into said counting head.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the counting head with the top removed toreveal parts contained therein.

Fig. 4 is a face view of the counting head showing one of the slidablymounted score drops in a lowered or released position and revealing acounting number.

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the pivotally mounted operatingpin.

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the score drop showing inparticular the spring retaining means for maintaining it in the setposition.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein similar referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein7 designates the horizontal portion of the'ball rolling surface whichterminates at one end in the upwardly and forwardly extendingsemi-circular surface 8, the scoring head positioned at the terminatingend of rolling surface 8 comprises a housing 9 into which balls 10 areforced after they are thrown by the player and caused to roll alonghorizontal rolling sur face 7 and around surface 8.

To indicate to the player the score he has made, ball 10 is caused toenter scoring head housing 9 through the rear as shown in Fig. 2where'itstrikes pin 11 pivotally mounted and suspended by a rod or similar 7means 12. When ball 10 strikes the lower end of pin 11, the upper enddraws cable 13 rearwardly and causes latch 14 to release its hold on theclips carried by a vertically sliding score drop 15.

As illustrated in the drawing there are a plurality of pins 11 and scoredrops 15 mounted within and upon scoring head housing 9 and the objectof the player is to cause as many of the score drops 15 to lower as ispossible. Pins 11 are spaced in such a way that a ball'properly thrownmay strike the lower end of the two adjoining pins. This featureintroduces the element of chance into the game and of course excitesgreater interest therein.

Further than that the scoring numerals 16 are painted or otherwisemarked on the face board 17 of the scoring head at a point where theyare concealed by scored drop 15 when the same is in a set position. Thenumber is revealed only when the score drop assumes a lowered position.After a player has thrown a predetermined number of balls, the device isreset through any suit able mechanism such as illustrated. Thisresetting mechanism preferably, though not necessarily, consists of atransverse shaft 18 having a series of arms 19 projecting up wardlytherefrom at points adjacent the "erticalcenter line of each score drop15. A. cable 20 connects arms 19 to score drop 15 as shown, and when thescore drop is in a set position enough slack is in cable 20 to permit ofits dropping to a. lowered position without interference. Crank 21rigidly attached to shaft 18 and made operable through cable 22 servesas a means for rotating the shaft 18 and arms 19 to a point where scoredrops 15 are again drawn up to the set position. A spring or othersuitable retrieving means 28 may be used to return arms 19 to theirnormal position after they have been actuated to reset score drops 15.To allow the automatic engagement of pin 14 with score drop 15 a new andnovel clip 23 is provided on the upper edge of score drop 15 which ispreferably formed of spring wire and adapted to spring apart and passaround pin 14 when cable 20 pulls score drop 15 into engagement with pin14.

A spring 24 normally retains pin 14 in the projected position and assoon as ball 10 passes beneath pin 11, pin 14 is ready for engagmentwith clip 23 of score drop 15. An additional spring 25 may be interposedbetween latch 14 and pin 11 to accommodate any excess forward swingingof the lower end of pin 11. After balls 10 strike pin 11 their force isstopped by buffer 26 and they are caused to roll into a return passage27 which leads back to the point of throwing.

This device may be made of any suitable material and to eliminate thenoise incident to the using of wooden balls, housing 9 may be padded onthe inside. erably formed of a hard sponge rubber whiclrmakesthe'playing of the game practically noiseless. Also, the device may bemade any size and used if desired as a toy for children. 7

Operation.

Amusement devices in which a ball is thrown by the player alonghorizontal surfaces and is made to travel over a semicircular rollingsurface into a counting head are well known and further description ofthe same is unnecesary.

To operate this device the ball is thrown along the aforementionedsurface in the usual manner and is caused to enter the counting headthrough the rear wall opening where it engages pins 11 suspended withtheir lower ends adjacent said opening. The pin is caused to swing to aposition as shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 2 which in turn causes abackward pull on cable 13 to release latch 14 from its hold upon scoredrop 15. Drop 15 at once lowers to the position shown in Fig. 4 and thenumeral 16 which is usually concealed by drop 15 is exposed to the viewof the player.

As was previously mentioned the pins are Balls 10 are pref andregulations concerning the number of balls, re-throws and scoring may bemade to suit the user of the device and same are not set forth herein.

Having thus described the invention and reserving the right to make allsuch formal changes and modifications as might fairly fall within thescope of the appended claims, what I claim is:

1. In combination with an amusement device having a ball rolling surfaceterminating in an upwardly and forwardly extending semi-circular curve,a closed cdunting head having scoring numerals marked on the face of thefront wall thereof and vertically sliding counting drops positioned overand concealing said scoring numerals when said counting head parts arein the set position.

2. In combination with an amusement device having a ball rolling surfaceterminating in an upwardly and forwardly extending semi-circular curve,a counting head comprising a housing, counting drops releasably andslidably mounted on the exterior face of the front wall thereof andmeans within said counting head operable by a thrown ball for releasingsaid counting drops.

3. In a counting head of the character described, a housing having aball entrance in its rear wall and a ball exit in the bottom thereof, aplurality of pins pivotally mounted within said housing, a plurality ofcounting drops slidably mounted on the exterior face of the front wallthereof and scoring numerals marked upon the face of said front wall inthe path of travel of said slidably mounted counting drops.

4. In a. counting head of the character described, a housing having aball entrance in its rear wall and a ball exit in the bottom thereof, aplurality of pins pivotally mounted within said housing having theirlower ends adjacent the ball entrance of said rear wall, a plurality ofcounting drops slidably mounted for vertical movement on the face of thefront wall thereof, scoring numerals painted upon the face of said wallin the path of travel of said slidably mounted counting drops and meanssupporting said counting drops operable by the said pins whereby saidscoring numeral is exposed to view by the striking of said pin.

5. In a counting head of the character described, a housing having aball entrance in its rear wall and a ball exit in the bottom thereof, aplurality of pins pivotally mounted intermediate their ends for freemovement in a vertical plane within said housing with their lower endsadjacent the ball entrance of said rear wall, a plurality of countingdrops slidably mounted on the face of the front wall of said housinghaving spring clips adapted to engage a latch when in the set position,said counting drops being held in said position to conceal scoringnumerals marked on the face of said front wall and a cable connectingsaid latch and the upper end of said pin whereby saidcounting drop isreleased to expose to View said scoring numeral.

6. In a counting head of the character described, a housing having aball entrance in its rear wall and a ball eXit in the bottom thereof, aplurality of pins pivotally mounted intermediate their ends for freemovement in a vertical plane within said housing with said counting dropto a set position after.

same has been released, comprising a transverse shaft, arms extendingupwardly therefrom, cables connecting said arms to said counting dropsand an actuating lever externally of said counting head housing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 25th day of November,1924.

OTTO U. HUSTED.

